Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Oxford/Oxfordshire

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Oxford/Oxfordshire? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Orwells

4.8

4.8 (1343)

£41 and over

British

Binfield Heath

About the restaurant

Located in Binfield Heath, Henley on Thames. Orwells' Kitchen is headed up by Michelin starred chef Ryan Simpson & Liam Trotman. The aim is to source the best produce available locally and beyond to prepare delicious dishes with no fuss to let the quality of the produce shine. The kitchen takes a rural approach combined with modern cooking. The restaurants' been recognised in all the major guides and have continued to hold 4AA rosettes consecutively for 8 years. We have a nice relaxing lounge area and the atmosphere is cosy and classy. The garden area has great views and is open on warm days for dining. We are also dog friendly.

Orwells offers a choice of Al a carte, Wednesday - Sunday alongside a Tasting menu.
The Lunch menu runs from Wednesday to Sunday, its £45 for 2 courses and £55 for three courses. Sunday has a roast offering which in £55 2 courses & £65 3 courses, alongside the tasting menu and A la carte

We look forward to seeing you very soon, Ryan, Liam & The Orwells Team x

Top review

Marivip

Dined 7 days ago

Absolutely amazing food. Great service. Fab wines. Worth there visit! Will come back soon.

The White Hart at Fyfield

4.7

4.7 (3054)

£26 to £40

British

Fyfield

About the restaurant

The impressive accolades of Oxfordshire Restaurant of the Year and Best Gastropub, are richly deserved for the White Hart. Set in the picturesque village of Fyfield, The White Hart is the ultimate country pub and offers one of the finest foodie dining experiences in the county. Housed in a stunning 15th century chantry, customers can choose to eat under the soaring eaves of the great hall, up high in the minstrel's gallery, in the cosy bar by the fire or on the beautiful patio terrace.
With a passion for provenance, the kitchen sources food from the very best local suppliers and grow much of their own fruit and vegetables. Mark even fishes for his own crayfish and trout from the local reservoir! Cooking is modern British and menus change daily depending on what is fresh and seasonal - with the signature slow roasted pork belly, with foot long crackling, being a favourite.

Top review

Gemma

Dined 1 day ago

Lovely welcome and acknowledgment of our special evening by the proprietor. Thoughtful table in the corner where we could appreciate the delightful interior and other diners thoroughly enjoying themselves! Lovely quality table setting ie napkins, cutlery and glassware. Excellent nibbles, enormous juicy fish and chips all brought to us by attentive staff. We had to leave to run and catch the bus but they ran after us with a complimentary brownie each with an iced ‘happy anniversary!’ plate and one truly British candle which we blew out in the car park! We smiled all the way home!

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Popular dish

Sticky toffee pudding

The Chequers at Burcot

4.7

4.7 (1226)

£26 to £40

British

Abingdon

About the restaurant

Outstanding food, fine wines & ales, an extensive cocktail menu and a warm, friendly atmosphere  await you at The Chequers at Burcot!

Since 2006, multi award winning chef Steven Sanderson has been delighting his customers with a beautiful selection of delicious dishes that offer traditional values with a modern twist.

Come and relax within our 400 year old inn beneath the ancient beams, and enjoy your meal in contemporary decor near an open fire that burns throughout the year.

We opened 9 new boutique rooms in 2019 and these, together with the restaurant, means that The Chequers at Burcot in South Oxfordshire is perfect for those looking for a getaway, a staycation or accommodation for a business trip.

Top review

Neil

Dined 5 days ago

Great food, great service lovely venue. I’d definitely recommend

No1 Ship Street

4.7

4.7 (2310)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Oxford

About the restaurant

No.1 Ship Street offers Oxfords most exciting food alongside its most astute service, over two floors. A Modern British brasserie with daily fish specials that include oysters, mussels and lobster.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 1 day ago

Great food and great service. This was lunchtime with about 50% occupancy - could imagine it could get quite noisy if full.

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Popular dish

Crème Brûlèe

The Cygnet at the Swan Inn

4.7

4.7 (88)

£41 and over

English

Kidlington

About the restaurant

"The Cygnet at The Swan" is an award winning restaurant led by Paul Welburn (previously awarded Michelin star at The Oxford Kitchen 2018). We have currently been awarded "3AA Rosettes" since being open, as well as both local awards "Ox in a Box" and "Muddy Stilettos Best Restaurant" awards.

We are open from Wednesday to Saturday, bookings are encouraged but not necessary. Our style is a "relaxed fine dining" always looking out for our guests comfort and experience.

Our food is a fusion of British cuisine with Paul's personal twists.
We offer our signature 4 course tasting menu for the evening (or lunch, just ask us) using seasonal ingredients.
Our menu can be enjoyed with matching wines handpicked by the restaurant staff.
Our menu is everchanging with the seasons, so there is always a reason to visit again!
We also offer our grazing menu for all lunchtimes and some evenings, with a selection of smaller and larger plates, ordered and served as and when for a more relaxing style.

Top review

PHIL

Dined 1 day ago

Superb cuisine. Paul & Peter put together amazing combinations of flavour.

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Experience

4 Course Tasting Menu - With Bread and Snacks

Experience

Semi Private Room - Tasting Menu

The Ivy Oxford Brasserie

4.5

4.5 (7400)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Oxford

About the restaurant

The Ivy Oxford Brasserie is located on the bustling High Street in the heart of Oxford. Enjoy an accessible all-encompassing menu, serving British classics from dawn until dusk, including breakfast, elevenses, weekend brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, light snacks, dinner and cocktails.

Top review

AnaG

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

Excellent service, great experience during pur anniversary lunch!

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Experience

£19.17 All-Day Set Menu

Experience

The Ivy Oxford Afternoon Tea

Experience

Breakfast Set Menu

The Fox at Barrington

4.5

4.5 (368)

£25 and under

Pub

Burford

About the restaurant

The Fox is a traditional 17th century Cotswold inn, next to the River Windrush, offering accommodation and delicious homemade seasonal dishes. The pub was taken over in early 2022 by the team behind The Angel at Burford who look forward to welcoming you.

Top review

Julian

Dined 6 days ago

Great food, lovely warm & welcoming service. Perfect country location !

Flora's Kirtlington

4.5

4.5 (26)

£25 and under

British

Kidlington

About the restaurant

We are a family-run restaurant owned and operated by two sisters, Flora and Georgia Douglas, our establishment is a true reflection of our deep-rooted passion for exceptional food and warm, familial hospitality. Both sisters have worked together to create a delicious menu. Georgia is a creative force in the kitchen, bringing the menu to life. Flora aims that every guest feels at home as she oversees the front of house. We are excited to share our favourite dishes with you, each one crafted with care and a genuine love for family dining.

Top review

Paul

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

During our two night stay at Flora's we had an evening meal and two breakfasts/brunches and thoroughly enjoyed the food, service and ambience in the restaurant. Nice, small but varied menu, choice of drinks and interesting wine list all served by helpful, polite professional staff. We will be back - Thank you to the guys @ Flora's

The Old Auctioneer

4.4

4.4 (364)

£26 to £40

Comfort Food

Banbury

About the restaurant

The Old Auctioneer is a 500 year old listed building in the centre of Banbury with wonderful character and history. It is now the home of great quality comfort food, incredible wings and much more. All dishes are homemade and cooked to order, and we have a lovely terrace for outside dining throughout the year.

We are open from 12 each day and are located on Parsons Street in the heart of Banbury centre. For any enquiries for parties of more than 8 people, please give us a ring or drop us an email and one of our team can help you out.
We look forward to seeing you soon!

Top review

Toni

Dined 5 days ago

Celebrated our son's 18th and liked the fact we could decorate in advance and they let us move to a more secluded area. Food was good as always and worked out around £30pp with drinks, plus the service charge, which for 2 courses is not bad!

Parsonage Grill

4.4

4.4 (2091)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Oxford

About the restaurant

Parsonage Grill is a Cotswold-esque bolthole located within the 5-star Old Parsonage Hotel in central Oxford on Banbury Road.

Famous for its intimate, bohemian, clubby atmosphere, and beautiful outdoor dining area, the Parsonage Grill displays an amazing collection of eclectic oil paintings; mainly portraits of well-known writers and artists.

Our expert team takes pride in using the best local produce, cooked simply to create classic British dishes with a modern, light touch.

Open every day of the year, enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and our famous afternoon teas, in the company of Oxford’s academic and literary luminaries...

Top review

Salome

Dined 5 days ago

My father said it was the best meal he has had all year! Delicious food; lovely staff; and stylish and cozy dining room.

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Experience

Afternoon Tea at the Parsonage Grill

Experience

Christmas Lunch at the Parsonage Grill

Experience

Christmas Party Menu at Parsonage Grill

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